Personal security device

ABSTRACT

A personal security device comprises a wrist band of electrical contracts attached by a lead wire to a hand-held body containing a battery power source at a first voltage, a transformer to step the first voltage to a second discharge voltage and a capacitor to store the discharge energy. The lead wire connects the positive and negative terminals of the capacitor to the sequentially disposed positive and negative electrical contacts on the wrist band respectively. A thumb switch is depressed to energize the capacitor so that if any two adjacent positive-negative terminals contact a conductive surface, the capacitor will discharge its energy onto that surface. The device is effective in deterring would be attackers whether they be human or animal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

1. This invention pertains to personal security devices that are worn on the person and in particular to a personal security bracelet that is adapted to discharge electricity onto the skin of an attacking person or animal at a voltage sufficiently high so as to deter an attack but not cause tissue damage to the attacker.

BACKGROUND ART

Security devices that discharge electricity are well known. Examples include the TASER™ family of Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) manufactured by TASER International. The TASER™C2 is a self-defense ECD using propelled wires or direct contact to conduct electrical energy into the body of an attacker. The electrical discharge can be as high as 50,000 volts in order to affect the sensory and motor functions of the nervous system of an attacker. The TASER™C2 uses a replaceable cartridge containing compressed nitrogen to deploy two small probes that are attached to the device by insulated conductive wires. The wires have a maximum length of 15 feet or 4.5 meters. The electrical discharge can penetrate up to two cumulative inches of clothing.

This type of stand-off device works best when the individual has sufficient time to deploy it from a purse or holster. In other situations, such as when an individual is ambushed without warning, the TASER™ -type device is not effective as there is no time to deploy, aim and fire the device.

Therefore, there is a continued need for a close-in deterrent device that is capable of delivering a sufficiently large electrical shock to an attacker and is worn on the body so that pre-deployment is not necessary.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Solution to Problem

A preferred embodiment of the invention is a personal security device comprising a pistol grip-shaped first body for comfortable placement within the palm of a user's hand, batteries for power storage at a first voltage contained within the first body, a transformer and capacitor in combination to generate and store a electrical energy discharge at a second higher voltage higher than the first voltage and a wrist band worn by the user having a plurality of discharge contacts connected to the storage capacitor. When the discharge contacts contact the body of another person the discharge circuit is shorted and the energy stored in the capacitor is discharged on to the other person with deterrent effect.

In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a personal security device comprising a pistol grip body for comfortable placement within the palm of a user's hand, an electrical circuit comprising a battery of a first voltage contained within the pistol grip body, a transformer connected to the battery and housed within the pistol grip body for stepping up the first voltage of around three volts to a second discharge voltage of around 1500 volts, a capacitor for storing an electrical discharge. The capacitor has a positive and negative discharge terminal that are respectively connected to a plurality sequentially aligned positive and negative electrical contacts disposed on a wrist band worn by the user. A spring-biased thumb-actuated trigger switch on the pistol grip body is disposed between the electrical contacts and the power source. The discharge circuit remains open until the user presses the trigger to close the electrical circuit charge the capacitor so that when the contacts contact a conducting surface the capacitor will discharge with deterrent effect.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view across section x-x in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the female side of a snap connector of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional side view of the snap connector of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional side view of the male side of a snap connector of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of a contact pad on a wrist band of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side view of an electrical contact.

FIG. 3C is an electrical schematic diagram of the wrist band of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A is a diagram of a kit of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5B is a diagram of the body of the invention in the palm of a user.

FIG. 5C is a diagram of the thumb-actuated trigger switch of one embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE

The drawings enclosed herein illustrate at least one preferred embodiment of the invention which is a personal security bracelet. The following description and figures to which it refers are provided for the purpose of describing examples and embodiments of the invention only and are not intended to exhaustively describe all possible examples and embodiments of the invention. There are many specific implementations of the personal security bracelet described herein that a person skilled in the art would see as novel and inventive.

The invention is intended to be used as a security device for people who feel uncomfortable in their immediate surroundings and require some extra security and protection. This invention provides extra security and protection effectively and inexpensively. Some applications of the invention include: self-protection for persons walking late at night in the city or wilderness, repelling unwanted intrusions into personal space by persons or animals, persons walking in areas of known crime, persons jogging in unfamiliar cities and persons who wish protection against animal, and in particular, dog attacks. The invention is well adapted for use by private citizens, law enforcement personnel and security guards.

Referring to FIG. 1A there is shown a front view of the invention 10 comprising a first body 12. In this embodiment the first body is in the shape of a pistol grip casing. Other shapes are possible. The pistol grip casing is sized to fit comfortably in the palm of a user and permits two fingers to wrap around the top finger curve 13 and two fingers to wrap around the bottom finger curve 15. The casing holds power storage means 16 of a first voltage and electrical discharge generating means mounted on a circuit board 14 to generate a second higher discharge voltage. In the embodiment shown the power storage means is a battery 16. The battery can be rechargeable and the device can be plugged into a household current for recharging using a suitable adaptor. The electrical discharge generating means is mounted to a circuit board and includes a transformer and a high voltage capacitor for generating and storing a high voltage discharge. On the lower front face of the casing are two bottom-disposed high voltage snap connectors 18 and 20 for connecting the capacitor contained within the pistol to the electrodes that are worn separately on a second body remote from the first body. In one embodiment the second body is a wrist band and has means for discharging the capacitor onto the surface of an attacker as further described below. Should the connection between the discharge electrodes on the wrist band become detached from the pistol grip during a struggle with an attacker, the high voltage discharge connectors are still capable of discharging the energy stored on the capacitors within the pistol grip. The casing has a front surface 30, a top surface 24 a bottom surface 32, a finger-side surface 34 and a palm side surface 36.

Referring to FIG. 1B, there is shown a side view of the invention comprising the pistol grip casing 12, palm-side surface 36, snap connector 20 and thumb trigger 22, bottom surface 32 and top surface 24.

Referring to FIG. 1C is a top view of the invention casing 12 showing top surface 24 and thumb trigger 22.

Referring to FIG. 1D there is shown a cross section of the finger-side 34 of the pistol grip 12 across section X-X in FIG. 1A. The pistol grip includes an outer circumference 40 containing an O-Ring 42 between pistol grip halves 44 and 46. The O-Ring 42 provides a hermitical seal between the pistol grip halves. The pistol grip halves are snapped together in a press-fit over the O-Ring.

-   1. Referring to FIG. 2A there is shown a front view of the female     side 50 of snap connector 52 of one embodiment of the invention. The     snap connector 52 is mounted to a plastic mount 54. Break-line 56     indicates that a second identical connector would also be mounted to     the plastic mount 54 but is not shown. -   1. FIG. 2B illustrates the plastic mount 54 in side sectional view.     The female side 50 of the snap connector 52 is disposed within the     plastic mount to protect it against moisture and insulate it from     the skin of the wearer. Electrical lead 58 connects the female side     50 of the connector with the male side of the connected mounted in     the pistol grip as described below thereby energizing the contacts     on the wrist band.

FIG. 2C illustrates the male side 60 of the snap connector comprising plug 62 adapted to be received by the female side 50. The plug 62 is mounted in the wall 64 of the pistol grip 12. Lead 66 connects the plug 62 with the discharge capacitor.

Referring to FIG. 3A here is shown in side cross-section one embodiment of a wrist band 70 mounting a plurality of discharge electrodes 71 and 72. The wrist band varies in thickness to accommodate a single line of electrodes or multiple parallel lines of electrodes. The wrist bands can also act as a substrate for art work and advertisement. The wrist band 70 can be a loop and hook type fastener but other types of commonly used fasteners for wrist straps can be used. The discharge electrodes 71 (negative) and 72 (positive) are embedded into a flexible contact pad 76 that wraps around the top surface of the wrist of the wearer. One embodiment of a discharge electrode 72 is shown in cross-section in FIG. 3B. The electrode is made preferable from brass and comprises a hemispherical button 78 mounted on a rectangular base 80. The electrodes are alternately energized with positive and negative charges so that when any two electrodes contact a skin surface the capacitor will discharge. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3A illustrates five electrodes but fewer or more electrodes can be placed into a contact pad. Lead wire 58 is about seven inches long and extends from one side of the contact pad to the plastic mount 54 for connection to the pistol grip by female side contacts 18 and 20.

FIG. 3C illustrates a schematic of the series of electrodes within the contact pad. Lead wire 58A connects the negative electrodes 71 and lead wire 58B connects the positive electrodes 72. The result is sequentially alternating positive and negative contacts on the contact pad so that any two adjacent contacts touching a conducting surface such as the skin of an attacker will discharge the capacitor and provide a deterrent shock to the attacker.

FIG. 4 illustrates the circuit board of one embodiment of the invention. There is a power source 80 comprising batteries. In one embodiment a plurality of ‘AAA’ size batteries are used and the input voltage is 3 volts. Other battery types are possible as long as they fit within the pistol grip. First switch 82 and second trigger switch 84 operate to connect the power source 80 to the charging transformer 86. When the device is turned on red LED 88 glows and then the capacitor 90 is charged green LED 92 glows. Opposite plates of the capacitor 90 are connected by leads 58A and 58B to positive and negatively charged electrodes on the wrist band. The output voltage is about 1500 volts. The circuit is completed by the necessary installation of resistors 94 to 100, diode 102 and transistor 104.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, there is shown one embodiment of my invention as a kit 110 comprising a pistol grip 112 having a top trigger button 114 and two wrist bands, namely, wrist band 116 with lead 118 and mount 120 and wrist band 122 with lead 124 and mount 126 for connecting to male contacts 130. The batteries may or may not be included in the kit. Accessories may also include wrist band of varying widths and shapes.

Referring now to FIG. 5B, there is shown one embodiment of the pistol grip 140 within the palm 142 of a user. The top two fingers 144 and 146 will wrap around the top finger indentation 148 and the bottom two fingers 150 and 152 will wrap around the bottom finger indentation 154. The thumb 156 will sit above the trigger button 160 on the top surface 162 of the pistol grip. The wrist band 164 is around the wrist 166 of the user and the lead 168 connects the wrist band contact pad 170 with the pistol grip 112.

FIG. 5C shows the pistol grip 112 clenched in the fist 172 of the user. The trigger button 160 is ready to be activated by thumb 156 in order to energize the positive 70 and 71 electrodes within the contact pad 170 on the wrist of the user.

Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

1. A personal security device comprising: a. A first body for comfortable placement within the palm of a user's hand; b. Power storage means contained within said first body wherein said power storage means is of a first voltage; c. An electrical discharge generating means contained within the first body wherein said electrical discharge is of a second voltage higher than said first voltage; and, d. A second body in electrical communication with the first body by wire means, said second body remotely disposed from the first body, the second body worn on the person of said user and further wherein the second body includes means for discharging the electrical discharge onto the surface of a third body.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first body has a pistol grip shape and further comprises a front surface, a back surface, a top half having a top surface, a bottom half having a bottom surface, a finger-side surface and a palm-side surface, and further wherein said top half and said bottom half are joined at a hermitical seal comprising an O-Ring.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said power storage means comprises at least one battery having said first voltage, and wherein said first voltage is at least three volts but not more than 12 volts.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said at least one battery is a rechargeable battery.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said electrical discharge generating means comprises an electrical circuit mounted on a circuit board, said electrical circuit comprising a transformer for converting the first voltage into said second voltage and a capacitor for storing the electrical discharge.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second voltage is at least 1000 volts.
 7. The device of claim 5, wherein the second voltage is at least 1500 volts.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second body is an electrical contact pad comprising a plurality of electrical contacts.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein said electrical contact paid is mounted to a wrist band for wearing on a wrist of said user.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said plurality of electrical contacts are disposed linearly on the electrical contact pad and further wherein the plurality of electrical contact pads comprise positively and negatively charged electrical contacts disposed sequentially so that a short circuit between a positively charged electrical contact and an adjacent negatively charged contact caused by touching said third body results in electrical discharge onto the third body.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein said wire means comprises a negative lead between the negative terminal of the capacitor and the negatively charged electrical contacts on the wrist band and an adjacent positive lead between the positive terminal of the capacitor and the positively charged electrical contacts on the wrist band.
 12. A personal security device comprising: a. A pistol grip body for comfortable placement within the palm of a user's hand; b. An electrical circuit comprising a battery of a first voltage contained within said pistol grip body; c. A transformer connected to said battery and housed within the pistol grip body for stepping up said first voltage to a second discharge voltage; d. A capacitor for storing an electrical discharge, wherein said capacitor is housed within the pistol grip body and connected to and charged by said transformer at said second discharge voltage, and wherein the capacitor has a positive and negative discharge terminal; e. A plurality sequentially aligned positive and negative electrical contacts disposed on a wrist band worn by said user, wherein said plurality of positive contacts are connected by a positive lead to said positive capacitor discharge terminal and wherein said plurality of negative contacts are connected by a negative lead to said negative capacitor discharge terminal; and, f. A thumb-actuated trigger switch on the pistol grip body, wherein said trigger is disposed between the electrical contacts and the capacitor terminals, and wherein the trigger is spring biased so that said electrical circuit remains open until said thumb-actuated trigger is depressed by the user to close the electrical circuit and discharge the discharge voltage to the electrical contacts on the wrist band.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein the electrical circuit comprises an ‘armed’ mode engaged by a first electrical switch and an ‘on’ mode, wherein said ‘on’ mode wherein the capacitor is charged with an electrical discharge upon depression of the thumb-actuated trigger.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said capacitor can discharge and recharge with a discharge voltage in less than five seconds.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the discharge voltage is 1500 volts. 